Policies

Sabbatical Leave

Sabbatical Leave

SL Faculty Sabbatical Leaves

The purpose of Central’s sabbatical program is to enhance the professional growth of the faculty. The College encourages its faculty to participate in periodic sabbaticals with the expectation that the faculty will return to the classroom with greater vitality and improved teaching skills. In exchange for having a sabbatical program that has improved financial support and seeks to regularize this activity throughout one’s career, the faculty member is to be held accountable by reporting on the activities undertaken during sabbatical to the VPAA/Dean of Faculty, to one’s colleagues at Central, and to Central’s students.

SL.1 Eligibility

A. Tenured faculty of Central College after six (6) years of full-time teaching are eligible to apply for a Sabbatical Leave. When appropriate, approval of the sabbatical application is conditional upon the granting of tenure, as well as meeting the other criteria for approval.

B. Eligibility for another sabbatical is earned when the applicant has served six (6) years of full-time equivalent teaching after a sabbatical granted for a full year or one semester.

SL.2 Duration

Eligible tenured faculty may apply for a sabbatical leave for one full academic year (fall and spring) or for a one semester leave (fall or spring).

SL.3 Compensation

A. Full-year sabbatical leave:

1. If the leave is for one full academic year, the faculty member will receive 75% of the salary the faculty member would have received in that academic year.

2. Benefits: Medical benefits, long-term disability, life insurance and tuition reduction will continue as if in regular status. Social Security and the appropriate percentage for TIAA-CREF will be paid on the wage income received. The faculty member will not be covered by worker’s compensation.

B. One semester sabbatical leave: 100% of salary, medical benefits, long-term disability, life insurance, and tuition reduction. Social Security and the appropriate percentage for TIAA-CREF will be paid on the salary received. The faculty member will not be covered by worker’s compensation.

C. Faculty sabbaticals may receive external support in the form of a grant, salary, scholarship, or fellowship. In no case may the salary exceed 100% of a faculty member’s base 9-month salary. Compensation during the summer months is permitted.

SL.4 Criteria

A. Probable contribution of the proposed activity to the college, the department, the profession, and/or the professional development of the applying faculty.

B. Activities (nonexclusive list) in a sabbatical may include:

research at another college, university, or research institute

research at Central

practical experience in one’s profession

government or nonprofit organization service

performances or exhibitions

SL.5 Responsibilities

A. Continued employment at Central College for one year following a full- or half-year sabbatical. Faculty resigning prior to completing this term of employment will repay a prorated portion of the salary and benefits that were received during the sabbatical.

B. Carrying out the activities listed in the sabbatical proposal. If there is a desire to undertake a different set of activities, this can only be done with the written consent of the VPAA/Dean of Faculty.

C. Refraining from accepting other remunerative employment during the period of the sabbatical unless specifically authorized by the VPAA/Dean of Faculty.

D. Resigning from all committee and council activities if the faculty member is on a full-year sabbatical. The recipient will not volunteer for, nor be asked to, assume departmental or college responsibilities, including serving as an academic advisor, other than to focus on activities of the sabbatical.

E. Writing a report on the recipient’s activities during the time of the sabbatical for inclusion in her/his personnel file. The application and report will be included in any future application for another sabbatical. The report is due 1 October following the conclusion of the sabbatical to the Office of Academic Affairs.

F. Reporting, either by writing or speaking, to appropriate faculty and student groups about the applicant’s activities during the sabbatical. This may include, as examples, speaking to a student club, a class, a faculty symposium, or a discussion group.

SL.6 Timeline

A. Persons wishing to apply for sabbatical will need to plan at least 1.5 years in advance. Faculty requesting sabbatical leave would meet with the VPAA or designate before 1 April in the calendaryear prior to the sabbatical request in order to present a development plan.

B. Application for sabbatical leave requests due by Oct. 1 in the academic year prior to sabbatical request.

C. Faculty Development Committee will review sabbatical leave requests and make recommendations to the VPAA by Dec 15th of that same academic year.

D. The President will approve sabbatical leaves by the Spring of that same academic year.

E. Reports of the sabbatical are due Oct 1 of the year following a leave.

SL.7 Planning

Sabbatical leaves should be plannedso as to reduce to a minimum the need for replacements for the faculty member on leave. Arrangements to cover the applicant's courses while on sabbatical must be discussed by the Department Chair with the VPAA/Dean of Faculty as part of the Chair’s role in the application procedure.